May’s mayoral primary ‘the most expensive election ever in the city’

With Labor Day (and, unofficially, summer) behind us, attention should soon return to Philadelphia’s mayoral race. You know, that five-candidate contest which Jim Kenney (D) hasn’t already won.

Before we head into a general-election season featuring at least four debates (with varying levels of invited participation), it’s worth taking a look back at just how much coin was spent during the primary season. Spoiler alert: A lot. Like, $122 per voter a lot.

Our good friends over at The Next Mayor broke it down like this:

When you add it up, Democratic candidates for office – and the political action committees that supported them – spent $28.7 million during the months that led up to the primary.

It was, by far, the most expensive election ever in the city, even after taking inflation into account.

The total is based on campaign finance reports filed with city and state election agencies. It could go higher because a number of candidates and PACs have yet to file all (or, in some cases, any) of the reports required by law.

Want to read more about how a record-high amount of money was spent during a blowout election featuring really low turnout? That’s what this link is for.